Format of listenings: in‑person
Dates: October 28 — November 2, 2026
Contest venue: Syktyvkar, Russia
With the support of the Head of the Komi Republic, Rostislav Goldstein.
Dedicated to the memory of Vladyka Pitirim – Archbishop of Syktyvkar and Komi‑Zyryans, and to the 30th anniversary of the Syktyvkar Diocese.
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Genre: academic vocal
Age of participants: from 9 to 21 (inclusive)
The Contest is incorporated in the Association of Music Contests of Russia
Founders of the Contest
— Ministry of culture and archives of the Komi Republic
— Ministry of education and science of the Komi Republic
— International Cultural Foundation “Classics and Modernity”
Organizers and partners of the Contest:
— Ministry of National Policy of the Komi Republic
— Yu.A. Spiridonov Gymnasium of Arts under the Head of the Komi Republic
— Pitirim Sorokin Syktyvkar State University
— Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre of the Komi Republic
— College of Arts of the Komi Republic
— Komi Republican Printing House
— Cultural Initiative Center “Yugor”
— Center for Folk Art and Professional Development
— Art-Center Company (Moscow)
Information support:
— Information Agency and the newspaper Musical Klondike (Moscow)
— National newspaper Music review (Moscow)
— Komi Republican Television Channel “Yurgan” (Syktyvkar)
— Association of Regional Media “ARS-PRESS” (Moscow)
The competitive listenings consist of 2 rounds and are held in two formats:
— publicly – in‑person format;
— remotely via video recordings.
The Contest Terms (in-person)
- Young vocalists in 4 age groups are allowed to participate:
- Younger age group — 9-11
- 1st average age group — 12-14
- 2nd average age group — 15-17
- Senior age group — 18-21 (inclusive for the moment of registration)
- Competitive listenings are public and consist of 2 rounds. The winners of the 1st round of competitive listenings are allowed to participate in the 2nd round.
- The sequence of appearances is established by sortition during registration and remains till the end of the Contest.
- The Jury estimates the appearances of participants by 10 ball system by closed vote.
- Final determination of places and prizes is done taking into account the results of the first and second rounds.
- If and when at count of balls or when voting there exists the equal amount of votes «for» and «against», the vote of the chairman is final. Olga Sosnovskaya is Constant Chairman of the Contest Jury, in her absence Chairman of the Contest Jury is appointed by the Organizing Committee.
- The estimation of a jury member whose pupil takes part in the contest, is not taken into account at count of balls.
- Within the competence and the established bonus fund the Jury has the right:
- a) To award not all prizes;
- b) To divide monetary awards (except Grand prix) between winners.
- c) To award the title “Prize winner (Diplomant) of the International Contest”.
- d) To establish special prizes
- Jury decisions are final and are not subject to reconsideration.
- Results of the Contest are announced not later than the day of the final Gala concert of the Contest.
- Each participant should have his (her) concertmaster. In case of indication in the application form of the need to provide a concertmaster, the Organizing Committee gives concertmaster for additional payment. The schedule of rehearsals as agreed. Music material should be sent together with the application form marked “Music material” to: mcfond@mail.ru (music, written by hand, is not accepted).
- Participants define sequence of the performed musical compositions themselves.
- Performance of the contest program under phonogram is not allowed.
- Participants who have passed to the 2-nd round, are obliged gratis to take part in the final Gala concert of the Contest, as well as in additional 2nd concert if approved by the Organizing Committee. Participants who do not take part in the Gala Concert will have the opportunity to take part in charity concerts at venues around the city.
- The Organizing Committee has the right for TV and radio broadcasting of listenings and concerts of the Contest, make audio and video recordings with their further commercial distribution without the additional fee to contest participants.
- The winners of Grand prix and laureates of the First Prize of the Contest of last years have the right to participation in the next contest only on condition of their participation in another age category.
Competitive requirements on the Program of Appearances
Soloists-vocalists. Time of performance: no more than 12 minutes
I round
Younger age group (9-11):
— folk song accompanied by a piano or «a capella»;
— musical composition by choice.
1st average age group (12-14):
— folk song accompanied by a piano or «a capella»;
— aria, arietta, madrigal, canzone of XVI-XVIII century;
2nd average age group (15-17):
— folk song accompanied by a piano or «a capella»;
— aria, аrietta, madrigal, canzone of XVI-XVIII century;
— romance of a Russian (Sopviet) composer.
Senior age group (18-21):
— folk song accompanied by a piano or “a capella”;
— aria of XVI-XVIII century;
— romance of a Russian (Soviet) composer.
II round
Younger age group (9-11):
— song or romance (Mozart, Schubert, Vekerlen, Haydn, Grieg, Brams, Beethoven, Glinka, Tchaikowsky, Bulahov, Gurilev, Varlamov, etc.);
— musical composition by choice.
1st average age group (12-14):
— song or romance (Mozart, Schubert, Vekerlen, Haydn, Grieg, Brams, Beethoven, Glinka, Tchaikovsky, Bulahov, Gurilev, Varlamov, etc.);
— musical composition by choice.
2nd average age group (15-17):
— aria of a Russian or foreign composer;
— romance of a foreign composer;
— musical composition by choice.
Senior age group (18-21):
— aria of a Russian or foreign composer;
— romance of a Russian or foreign composer;
— musical composition of a composer of XX-XXI century.
The performance of the program is desirable in the language of the original.
Musical compositions performed in the 1st round cannot be performed again in the 2nd round. It is recommended that the selection of musical compositions correspond to the age of the participants (complexity, character, texts).
Music material of the composers of the Komi Republic can be sent on request and approval.
On the site you can find a full list of works performed by the participants in previous years.
The Prize Fund
«GRAND PRIX» 185.000 rubles
Younger age group (9-11)
— first prize and the title of laureate 15.000 rubles
— second prize and the title of laureate 12.000 rubles
— third prize and the title of laureate 10.000 rubles
1st average age group (12-14)
— first prize and the title of laureate 18.000 rubles
— second prize and the title of laureate 15.000 rubles
— third prize and the title of laureate 12.000 rubles
2nd average age group (15-17)
— first prize and the title of laureate 20.000 rubles
— second prize and the title of laureate 17.000 rubles
— third prize and the title of laureate 15.000 rubles
Senior age group (18-21):
— first prize and the title of laureate 35.000 rubles
— second prize and the title of laureate 25.000 rubles
— third prize and the title of laureate 20.000 rubles
Special prizes and monetary awards:
— title “Prize winner (Diplomant) of the Contest”
— prize to the teacher of «GRAND PRIX» winner 20.000 rubles
— prize to the best concertmaster 20.000 rubles
— prize for the best performance of a romance
of a Russian composer 20.000 rubles
— prize for the best performance of
a musical composition of the
Komi Republic composer 10.000 rubles
— prize of spectators’ sympathies 10.000 rubles
— special prize for the best performance
of a piece based on the poems of Vladyka Pitirim 10.000 rubles
The winners of the Contest in the appropriate category are awarded the title of «Laureate of the International Contest» or “Diplomant of the International Contest”, diplomas and monetary prizes are awarded. All other participants are conferred certificates for participation in the Contest.
«Grand prix» of the Contest (monetary award) and “Olga Sosnovskaya Prize” (valuable prize) are special prizes that are awarded for high performing skills and artistry. The Grand Prix winner is recognized as the absolute winner of the Contest.
The Terms for Participation in the Contest
For participation in the contest you are to send to the Organizing Committee before October 16, 2026 (inclusive) to mcfond@mail.ru the following documents:
— filled in application form (Appendix 1)
— participant‘s competition program (Appendix 2)
— scanned music material of the competition program (if a concertmaster is needed)
— high-quality color portrait photo for the booklet (looking into the camera) in electronic format (at least 2 MB)
— brief creative biography (educational institution, teacher, participation in contests, master classes)
— passport or birth certificate copy
— a receipt (scan) for the payment of the application fee
The application fee is:
— before October 16, 2026 (inclusive) — 3000 rubles
— from October 17 to October 28, 2026 — 4500 rubles
For foreign participants, payment is made in euros or US dollars at the exchange rate of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation.
For payment inquiries, please contact the fund’s accounting department at shulepova_s@mail.ru.
Detailed information is available on the Сontest website in the “Payment of the application fee” section.
Payment of application fee is the acknowledgement and acceptance by the contestant of the terms and conditions of the given REGULATIONS.
Participants of the Contest pay for travel, accommodation and meals expenses themselves.
Detailed information on organizational matters is available on the Contest website in the “Important Information” section.
Schedule of competitive days
— October 28 — registration, sortition, rehearsals, Ceremonial Opening of the Contest.
— October 29, 30, 31— competitive listenings.
— November 1 — thematic seminar, announcement and discussion of results of the Contest, consultations and master classes of the Jury members.
— November 2 — Gala concert and awards ceremony of Laureates, Closing Ceremony.
Venues of competitive events in Syktyvkar:
- October 28 — Opening of the Contest – State Opera and Ballet Theater of the Komi Republic (32, Kommunisticheskaya st.).
- October 29,30,31 — Competitive listenings – Yu.A. Spiridonov Gymnasium of Arts under the Head of the Komi Republic (28, Pechorskaya st.).
- November 1 — Master classes — College of Arts of the Komi Republic (51, Lenin st.).
- November 2 — Gala concert of the winners of the Contest — Yu.A. Spiridonov Gymnasium of Arts under the Head of the Komi Republic (28, Pechorskaya st.).
Composer’s Contest
In order to promote vocal art and stimulate the creative activity of contemporary composers, the International Olga Sosnovskaya Young Vocalists Contest, as part of its events, announces the “Composer’s Contest for the creation of vocal works for children and youth”.
A prize fund is:
- first prize and the title of laureate — 50,000 rubles
- second prize and the title of laureate — 35,000 rubles
- special prize for the best work based on the poems of Vladyka Pitirim — 20,000 rubles.
Required condition for participation in the Composer’s Contest! – the work must be performed by a participant of the XXIII International Olga Sosnovskaya Young Vocalists Contest, within the framework of the competition program, in one of the following categories: a romance by a Russian (Soviet) composer, a work by a composer of the XX-XXI centuries, or a musical composition by choice.
Important clarification! If a participant did not advance to the second round, but the composer’s work is included in the program of the second round, the performance of this work will be permitted on the days of the second round.
Detailed information about the Composer’s Contest is available on the Contest website.
Additional information
Contest administration: Syktyvkar, Komi Republic. Non‑profit cultural foundation “International Cultural Foundation ‘Classics and Modernity’”. Phone: + 7 (8212) 57-08-08, mobileT2: +79087170808. E‑mail: mcfond@mail.ru.
We are in the VK groups https://vk.com/konkursyun, Odnoklassniki https://ok.ru/konkursyun.
Accommodation and meals for the contestants and accompanying persons will be provided in the dormitory of the Gymnasium of Arts, as well as in hotels of Syktyvkar. Detailed information is available on the Contest website in the “Important Information” section.
Information about the arrival dates (route, date and time of arrival, number of people) must be sent to the Organizing Committee no later than three days before arrival.
Within the framework of the in‑person competition days, advanced training courses will be organized for vocal teachers and concertmasters.
In November, an international scientific and practical conference will be held in a remote format based on the results of the Сontest. The conference will focus on issues related to pre‑professional training, the development and popularization of academic vocal art among children and young people. The conference will be attended by well‑known teachers and concertmasters, professional vocalists, heads of music educational institutions, specialists in the fields of medicine and psychology, and representatives of cultural administration bodies. The conference will be included in the program of advanced training courses.
Representatives of mass-media, organizations and establishments, interested persons, sponsors can take part in the Contest as Contest Partners.
All videos of the Contest participants, starting from 2012, are available on our YouTube and RUTUBE channels.
Complete information on the “International Olga Sosnovskaya Young Vocalists Contest”, list of participants of previous years, results, program of performances, list of sponsors and prizes you can find on http://konkursyun.ru/
P.S. Dear laureates and diploma winners! Please indicate in your creative resumes in the future that you participated and your status as “Laureate/Diploma Winner of the International Olga Sosnovskaya Young Vocalists Contest”.
Appendix No. 1
to the Regulations on the XXIII International Olga Sosnovskaya Young Vocalists Contest in Syktyvkar
APPLICATION
for participation in the XXIII International Olga Sosnovskaya Young Vocalists Contest
NAME (first name, family name) of participant, place of residence ________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Date of birth, age ______________________________________________________________
Postal address (postal code) _____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Tel. ________________________ E-mail _________________________________________
Voice type ___________________________________________________________________
Place of training _______________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Teacher (adviser) (first name, family name, place of work, position, mob.tel.) _______________
____________________________________________________________________________
Concertmaster (first name, family name, place of work, mob.tel.) ________________
____________________________________________________________________________
If you have no concertmaster, it is necessary to write down — «Concertmaster is necessary. Music material is enclosed».
Payment date of admission fee “____”_______________2026
I agree that in the case of my passing in the 2nd round, I gratuitously take part in the final Gala concert of the Contest, as well as in additional 2nd concert if the decision on its carrying out is accepted by the Organizing Committee.
I agree that the Organizing Committee has the right for TV and radio broadcasting of listenings and concerts of the Contest, make audio and video recordings with their further commercial distribution without the additional fee to Contest participants.
Date_______________________ Signature of participant/adviser _________________
Filled in and sent by e-mail: mcfond@mail.ru in 2 variants: a scanned signed copy and in Word.
Appendix No. 2
to the Regulations on the XXIII International Olga Sosnovskaya Young Vocalists Contest in Syktyvkar
COMPETITION PROGRAMME
of the participant in the XXIII International Olga Sosnovskaya Young Vocalists Contest
NAME (first name, family name) of participant, place of residence ________________________
I round
- __________________________________________________________________________
- __________________________________________________________________________
- __________________________________________________________________________
II round
- __________________________________________________________________________
- __________________________________________________________________________
- __________________________________________________________________________
Date_____________ Signature of participant/adviser ____________________
Filled in and sent by e-mail: mcfond@mail.ru in 2 variants: a scanned signed copy and in Word.